Wait, You Speak English? 9 Surprising Countries Where English Is The Official Language | World News
New Delhi: Donald Trump leaned when visiting the White House, the eyebrows got up. Liberia President Joseph Boakai made a polished statement in clear and confident English. Trump seemed surprised. “Where did you learn how to talk so beautifully?” he asked.
Boakai did not miss a rhythm. “English is our official language,” he said.
A short and unplanned change illuminated a corner of the world where many of them were forgotten – the old colonies, cultural intersection, places far from the United States or the United States were talked only, but also written in constitutions and used in courts, classes and cabinets.
Here is a view of Nine countries in Africa, Asia and Pacific, where English is the language of power, politics and daily life.
Liberia: First Language – English
A country built by Freed African-American slaves was modeled after the government’s structure after the United States, Liberia and the United States.
Today, it continues to be the primary language in English education, politics and media, and even if not for Americans, most of the White House is not surprising for the Liberian.
Nigeria: First Language – English
Nigeria, which hosts more than 500 mother tongue, returned to English as a neutral glue. The British left behind, rapidly became the language of courts, universities and national politics.
Nigerian English usually has its own flavor intertwined with Pidgin and local idioms. In the Senate, officially and daily in Nollywood.
Philippines: Languages – English and Filipino
The Philippines, once a Spanish colony and then an American, have absorbed English so much that you will love the songs on television, schools and even songs.
The American influence never really separated, but now comes with a distinctive Philippine accent, which is confused by tagalog in daily conversations.
Kenya: Languages – English and Svahili
Bored British heritage. Nairobi’s high -storey and Mombasa’s courthouse is the language of English, contracts, classes and CNN interviews.
While Svahili has a cultural heartbeat, the English keeps the country attached to global circuits.
Singapore: Languages – English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
This city state can be multilingual, but English that holds its diversity together. Education, government and business language.
On the street, it turns into Singlish – a mixture of English with Chinese, Malay and Indian slang, is full of rhythm, attitude and local intelligence.
Rwanda: Languages – English, Hindarwanda, French, Svahili
After Genocide, Rwanda shifted his gaze to the east, left French in 2008 and embraced English. Switch pointed to new alliances and opened the door to regional trade and diplomacy.
Now, the children in Kigali learn English at school and the authorities use it in the African Union.
South Africa: Languages – 11 official languages including English
English, Zulu, Xhosa and Africaans can share space, but for work, news and international diplomacy.
Enter a courtroom, enter a lively rugby match or watch a presidential address, probably in English.
Uganda: Languages – English and Svahili
A colonial holder translated the national standard. He speaks English in Uganda schools and parliaments, street signs and contracts. While tribal languages develop in homes, English is still stamped in charge.
Fiji: Languages – English, Fiji, Hindi
Located in the South Pacific, Fiji does not make a list of English -speaking nations. But he should. After the end of the British administration, English classes, courtrooms and tourist brochures were left behind.
Today, their communities bridge from ethnic lines to indigenous Fijian to Indo-Fijans.
These countries did not randomly choose English. Most of the colonists were inherited. Some have accepted it from necessity. Others reshaped him uniquely.
In both cases, he lives on language islands, savannahs and cities away from London or New York.
